Death toll climbs to 500 in Iranian quake
Death toll climbs to 500 in Iranian quake
Last Updated Wed, 23 Feb 2005 07:30:08 EST
CBC News
TEHRAN, IRAN - Rescue teams continue to pull out more bodies from the ruins of Iranian villages, destroyed when a powerful earthquake hit the country Tuesday, killing at least 500 people.
But heavy rain, freezing temperatures and the mountainous terrain hampered rescue efforts. Crews have been using dogs and machinery to locate bodies trapped in the debris.
The 6.4-magnitude quake hit the Kerman province near the town of Zarand, about 740 kilometres southeast of Tehran, affecting an estimated 30,000 people. Many survivors were left homeless, living in tents and surviving on food rations.
"The death toll is now 500, and there's a possibility that the figure will increase,"Mohammad Javad Fadaei, deputy governor of Kerman province told the Associated Press.
About 40 villages were damaged in the quake, located in a region about 200 kilometres northwest of the historic city of Bam, which was devastated by an earthquake in 2003. About 40,000 people killed in the southeastern Iranian city.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society has said it does not need outside aid, but Iranian officials say medicine, syringes and tents are in short supply.
Iran lies on top of seismic fault lines and is often shaken by quakes.
Copyright ©2005 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights Reserved
Last Updated Wed, 23 Feb 2005 07:30:08 EST
CBC News
TEHRAN, IRAN - Rescue teams continue to pull out more bodies from the ruins of Iranian villages, destroyed when a powerful earthquake hit the country Tuesday, killing at least 500 people.
But heavy rain, freezing temperatures and the mountainous terrain hampered rescue efforts. Crews have been using dogs and machinery to locate bodies trapped in the debris.
The 6.4-magnitude quake hit the Kerman province near the town of Zarand, about 740 kilometres southeast of Tehran, affecting an estimated 30,000 people. Many survivors were left homeless, living in tents and surviving on food rations.
"The death toll is now 500, and there's a possibility that the figure will increase,"Mohammad Javad Fadaei, deputy governor of Kerman province told the Associated Press.
About 40 villages were damaged in the quake, located in a region about 200 kilometres northwest of the historic city of Bam, which was devastated by an earthquake in 2003. About 40,000 people killed in the southeastern Iranian city.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society has said it does not need outside aid, but Iranian officials say medicine, syringes and tents are in short supply.
Iran lies on top of seismic fault lines and is often shaken by quakes.
Copyright ©2005 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights Reserved
posted by JimG at 8:38 AM
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